Chapter 2156 - 2156: The Rewards of Training (2)

'An increase in skill proficiency?'

If an Elemental Spirit wanted to increase its skill proficiency, there were mainly two common methods.

One was to repeatedly use that skill, and the second was to improve its understanding of the skill.

However, both methods were slow, and the more powerful the skill was, the longer it would take to improve it.

Moreover, the skill proficiency reward was not for a basic skill like [Flame Arrow] but for a powerful skill like [Advanced Flame Arrow].

Therefore, when Ajax saw the system notifications, he was excited.

'Even though this skill proficiency reward cannot be compared to the rewards from the first kill, it is better than nothing.'

With Ajax's experience, he already knew that the rewards would gradually decrease as Protos killed more Elemental Beasts.

Nevertheless, the skill proficiency reward was much better than he had expected.

'Let's see whether he can gain other rewards and how long they will continue.'

Ajax also knew that the rewards would gradually decrease until he eventually received nothing.

So, he curiously continued Protos's training.

As before, Ajax quickly found another Flaming Monkey and knocked it unconscious before asking Protos to kill it.

"Begin."

"Yes, Summoning Master!"

Protos immediately raised his hand and summoned [Advanced Flame Arrow].

'Swiish!'

A spinning flame arrow appeared before him and shot towards the Flaming Monkey's abdomen.

Compared to his previous attacks, the arrow was noticeably more powerful.

Thanks to the recent increase in skill proficiency, the Fire Essence of Nature within the arrow was much more concentrated, and its spinning speed had increased considerably.

The destructive power had increased by at least 30 percent compared to his earlier attacks.

'Kacha!'

The arrow struck the same weak spot and created a deep crack in the Flaming Monkey's crystalline body.

Protos continued firing his arrows at the same location, and in less than two minutes, the Flaming Monkey's body shattered.

'Swiish!'

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, has killed an Elemental Beast.]

[The skill proficiency of [Advanced Flame Arrow] has increased considerably.]

'Oh? Another increase?'

Ajax was pleased to see the notification.

Although the increase wasn't as significant as the previous one, it was within his expectations.

Moreover, it was still a considerable improvement.

"Good job, Protos. Let's continue."

"Yes, Summoning Master!"

Encouraged by Ajax's praise, Protos continued his training.

Soon, Ajax found another Flaming Monkey and prepared it for Protos.

Once again, Protos used [Advanced Flame Arrow] to attack its abdomen.

However, this time, the increase in his skill proficiency was much smaller.

After a few more attacks, the Flaming Monkey's crystalline body finally shattered.

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, has killed an Elemental Beast.]

[The skill proficiency of [Advanced Flame Arrow] has increased slightly.]

'As expected, the rewards are gradually decreasing.'

Ajax wasn't surprised by the latest notification.

He had already expected the benefits to diminish after repeated kills.

Nevertheless, as long as Protos could continue improving his skill proficiency through combat, Ajax was satisfied.

After all, improving a powerful skill like [Advanced Flame Arrow] through ordinary training would take considerably more time.

'Let's continue until the rewards become negligible.'

With that thought, Ajax continued preparing Flaming Monkeys for Protos's training.

...

Time continued to pass, and in a flash, one hour had passed.

During this one hour, Protos had killed nearly 30 Elemental Beasts and successfully evolved his [Advanced Flame Arrow] into [Inferno Flame Arrow], making both Ajax and Protos excited.

"Summoning Master, I am tired."

Nevertheless, the continuous use of his skill had not only depleted his Essence of Nature but also made him mentally exhausted.

Even as he complained, Protos released his newly evolved skill towards the Flaming Monkey in front of him.

[Inferno Flame Arrow]!

'Swiish!'

A fiery arrow surrounded by intensely burning flames shot towards the Flaming Monkey's abdomen.

'Kacha!'

The moment the arrow struck its crystalline body, a crack spread across its abdomen, and the entire body shattered into countless tiny specks of light.

Unlike before, Protos no longer needed to repeatedly attack the same weak spot to crack the Flaming Monkey's body.

After evolving into [Inferno Flame Arrow], the destructive power of his skill had increased considerably.

"Just three more Flaming Monkeys, and you can rest."

However, Ajax didn't go easy on him and told him to rest only after killing another three Flaming Monkeys.

Even though Ajax knew he was being harsh on the Elemental Spirit Child, it had to be done to improve his battle prowess.

'Just three more. I can do it!'

By now, Protos had already gotten used to Ajax's strict training.

Therefore, he gritted his teeth and decided to kill three more Flaming Monkeys.

'Let's do this!'

With renewed determination, Protos waited for the next Flaming Monkey, which Ajax quickly found and knocked unconscious for him.

"Begin!"

"Yes, Summoning Master!"

Protos raised his hand and gathered the Fire Essence of Nature around him.

[Inferno Flame Arrow]!

'Swiish!'

A fiery arrow covered in blazing flames shot towards the Flaming Monkey's abdomen.

'Kacha!'

Just like before, the Flaming Monkey's crystalline body cracked instantly and shattered into countless tiny specks of light.

As soon as Protos killed the first Flaming Monkey, something unexpected happened.

'Swiish!'

Protos's entire body suddenly began glowing with a bright red light.

The pitiful amount of Fire Essence of Nature inside his body began circulating rapidly and expanding wildly, while the flames surrounding him grew increasingly intense.

At the same time, a series of system notifications appeared in front of Ajax.

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, has accumulated sufficient Essence of Nature and battle experience.]

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, has reached the breakthrough threshold.]

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, is undergoing a natural breakthrough!]

'Finally, it's happening.'

Looking at the system notifications, Ajax revealed a satisfied smile.

Protos had been on the verge of breaking through for some time.

Now, after continuously fighting Elemental Beasts and improving his skills, he had finally reached the threshold.

Compared to breaking through using Spirit Stones, a breakthrough achieved through battle was much more beneficial, and Ajax had been hoping for it.

Ajax's goal was to nurture Protos into a strong Elemental Spirit, and this natural breakthrough was another positive sign that he was going in the right direction.

[The host's Elemental Spirit, Protos, has killed an Elemental Beast.]

[The Elemental Spirit, Protos, has awakened a Divine Skill: Unyielding Flame]

'T-this… a Divine Skill?'